I have always looked forward to putting up a new page on the site to show our models and layouts off...until now. This was the last time that Belle Vue appeared in public, it will now be stripped down and sent to the great layout maker at Newport scrap yard.
This was the first time we'd actually finished the layout as such, all the buildings completed, all the signals in and working, all the appropriate line side attachments where they should be, we soak tested the stock to get the failures down, we spent ages going over the track looking for defects...Belle Vue was in short pampered beyond belief! So, the hopes of having a good show were high.

Few last minute electrical gremlins being sorted, other than that we are up and in good order. Let the enemy in!

Setting up the details

  As with all exhibition appearances, when you dismantle, you have to put it all back once the layout is up and stable.

Dave adds a few more details to the station...



Rod and Dave putting the stock out ready to start running.



The youth section and TFC cleaning the track.



Richard and Rod sort the electrical switches for the shed...

So, having got all the stock in the right places, checked that all the routes worked on the shed and on the upper level, we were to all intents and purposes ready. There was just one thing missing, but a quick visit to Tescos by Uncle Don soon sorted that problem - proper 'cold tea', a real tradition at our club, could have jinxed the whole show without it!

All ready to impress at the party...

Ready, Steady...GO!

  And the public were let loose on Belle Vue. I usually, over the years, have always had big hopes for this layout of ours and after all the attention that its received from so many different people, that this year we would be able to give the viewing public a real treat, something for them to remember Newport MRS by.

Bernie's Commuter special, really nicely weathered and ran superbly all weekend.



Bernie's 56xx on the front of the coal train, before its tyre fell off!



Birmingham 3 car set are in at the Bay platform and ready to depart with the class 25.



Just some of the engines on the shed that Morgan moved around under the watchful eye of Grampa, Paul Sherwood!



G2 and 8F on shed duty.



Hymek runs light engine to the new fiddle yard, while the station pilot waits patiently.



The Britannia 'Polar Star' and class 20 cross on the centre roads.

There were many, many more engines and diesels that took the brunt of the work at this exhibition, TFC's pannier, the youth sections' Warship, the chairman's DMU set. There were also a number of successes as well, nearly all of the coaching stock behaved and we had very, very few fall offs. The one set that did play up - Birmingham 3 car set - may now face the wrath of the firing squad for not obeying orders! All in all the stock did ok, not brilliantly, but a lot better than in previous years of taking Belle Vue out.

The Operators

  As with all clubs, the layout could not work without its operators, (yes Rob, that photo is going to feature in this bit!), these guys worked amazingly well considering the hot conditions that affected everyone. A huge thank you to you all.

Paddington, Alistair and Uncle Don at the 'new' yard.



An EWS driver on driving duty...that'll make a change then!



Rod does sterling work signalling the layout and answering questions at the same time.



That doyen of the 'old' yard, Rob Foot, sends the signal twice!



TFC shows he can operate a mouse.



Widger the younger, doing a spot of driving.

The End of an Era

  Missing from these photos are Tall Tony T who as usual did the lions share of the duties, even though he is not in the best of health - thanks Tony. Missing from an exhibition for the first time was the club relic. Ray get well, it wasn't the same without you.
  To all those who over the years have helped operate and develop Belle Vue, a heartfelt thank you. I really can't say anymore than that and it sounds so insignificant for all the effort thats been put in over the last fifteen years.
I can't say the operating Belle Vue has always been a pleasure, what has always been a pleasure is the sense of cameraderie that you experience from a small group of people all facing the same way trying their best, despite everything conspiring to ruin it all, for that I am truly grateful to everyone associated with Newport MRS.

So if you want to ask us to an exhibition, you've missed the boat with this one. P4 modeling will return to Newport MRS with its new layout - Little Mill Junction. For all the comments we received (good and bad) thank you. Its good bye from me and its goodbye from Belle Vue.